Huhne, who stood down from the cabinet to fight the claims, remains the MP for Eastleigh, in Hampshire. Pryce is represented by another leading barrister, Clare Montgomery QC.

The two sat a few feet from each other in the glass panelled dock of court one at Southwark, but did not speak.

Huhne is alleged to have asked Pryce to take his penalty points for a speeding offence almost a decade ago. His car was allegedly caught by a speed camera on the motorway between Stansted airport, in Essex, and London in March 2003.

The allegations over the speeding penalty points did not emerge until after the MP's 26-year marriage ended in 2010 as a result of his affair with his PR adviser Carina Trimingham.

The judge, Mr Justice Saunders, was told any trial would last no longer than two weeks.

Both Huhne and Pryce are charged with perverting the course of public justice, which carries a maximum sentence of life imprisonment. Pryce was listed in court by her Greek forename, Vasiliki.

The two were granted unconditional bail and will appear again for a plea and case management hearing in May.